sketcher, journalist, newspaper proprietor, teacher and farmer, came to Queensland in 1860, aged 17, and farmed at Oxley Creek. His book, Old Colonials (London, 1882), had illustrations after his own drawings (see facsimile edition 1974). Married Isabella Dawson, a school-teacher, in 1862.

Boyd became a headmaster, sugar miller (1871-73), inspector of schools (c.1874) and Headmaster of Townsville Boys School (c.1876). He travelled extensively and began contributing articles to the Queenslander in August 1875 as 'Old Chum’; by March 1876 he had written 50 pieces. He was also proprietor of the Cleveland Bay Express in 1876 – briefly. In 1878 he opened a school at Milton and thereafter lived mainly in Brisbane, where he was a member of the Brisbane Johnsonian Club. He visited London with his wife in 1882. In 1887 he was appointed headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School. From 1897 he was editor of the Queensland Agricultural Journal .

Boyd died in Sydney in 1928, aged 85. Two wives predeceased him.

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1999

Last updated:

2011